Delta man who threatened to kill police faces weapons charges, drug felony

Felony drug and weapons charges were filed against a 50-year-old man who was taken into custody at a mobile home in Delta, Mo., after allegedly pointing a pistol at a man's head and threatening to "kill any cops" who arrived.

William R.D. Porter, 50, of Delta was arraigned in court on Monday on charges of drug manufacturing, illegal firearms possession and unlawful use of a weapon. Porter, who was convicted of a so-called dangerous felony, cannot legally own a gun under Missouri law.

A probable-cause statement filed by Delta police chief Verlan Graham said Porter had a gun Dec. 27, when he and deputy Jon Broom were dispatched to the mobile home after a caller told police Porter had a .45-caliber pistol and was threatening a man inside the home as well as police.

After no response at the main door, Graham said a woman opened a side door. The woman said two others were inside, including her boyfriend. The homeowner called police and fled in fear for his life, Graham said in his report.

Graham told the woman they were looking for Porter after she agreed to allow the officers to search the mobile home. The woman told police Porter was hiding in the kitchen, but she didn't know the whereabouts of a gun.

With his own gun drawn, Broom found Porter hiding inside a cabinet, according to the statement.

A pat-down revealed Porter had two pocket knives, including one that had been removed from a belt holster. The man who lived in the trailer -- and fled -- returned after Porter was placed under arrest, Graham said.

While searching a bathroom cabinet, Graham found a large jar with what appeared to be "shake-and-bake" methamphetamine ingredients, according to his statement.

Graham asked a dispatcher to contact the SEMO Drug Task Force. An agent had Graham remove everyone from the residence until he could arrive. All four individuals in the trailer were placed in handcuffs and taken outside.

The lab components were removed and a search revealed other items needed in the production of meth, the statement said.

The gun alluded to in the call -- a black, .45-caliber pistol with a loaded clip and an empty ammunition box -- was found tucked away in a bedroom closet behind several items, police said.

The other three individuals confirmed the pistol was the one Porter had placed against the mobile homeowner's head and with which he threatened to kill him.

Porter was taken to the Cape Girardeau County Jail, where he was charged with felony drug manufacturing and two weapons charges for illegally possessing and using the pistol.

Porter qualified for a public defender. Judge Gary Kamp set Porter's preliminary hearing for 2 p.m. Jan. 23.

Porter was convicted of several criminal offenses, including at least two assaults, drug possession and receiving stolen property. In 2002, he was found guilty in Texas of a felony offense known there as "intoxication manslaughter." That charge is filed when prosecutors claim that someone died because of the actions of an intoxicated driver.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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